As I see it: Summing up summer, facing the fall

Saturday

Oct 12, 2013 at 1:41 PMOct 12, 2013 at 1:41 PM

By Harriett Gustason

Remembering life is a great pastime when one has piled up so many years of it.

When autumn, or as most of us call it, "fall," creeps in, we think of the romps in the leaves we had when we were kids. We think of how we'd stoop and pick up a bright-colored leaf, marveling at its coloring. The thing I marvel at today is how green the grass has stayed this fall. The songbirds have departed, of course, leaving the silence for the garrulous chipping sparrows to fill.

People are busy this time of year getting out their warmer clothing, putting away the yard furniture and making sure the furnace is working when the cold winds start to blow. Mowers will have to be cleaned and greased. I guess all this preparation for the coming season helps to keep us from mourning the departure of one more summer.

Storm windows are being washed and put in place to shut those blustering winds out. My husband-wife team will come Saturday to do my windows. I have 13 room-sized windows, plus two attic and five basement windows, as well as two storm doors. The wife hangs my drapes out on the line to air and then hangs them back up for me. The husband hoses down my screens. They usually get the job done in a half day, making my view in every direction much brighter.

When the trees realize they must part with their leaves, the raking marathon begins. Flower bulbs are dug up. You'll now be seeing arrangements of pumpkins, squash and cornstalks in the yards or on the porches of some of those energetic folks. There are some out already, along with a few ghosts and goblins.

The other day I decided to drive downtown and mail a letter, and on the way home — not quite ready to go there, I continued to Park Boulevard and took a swing down through Krape Park. It was very quiet. A few people were scattered around and a couple was walking their dog. There was a jogger and an occasional car, which was probably a resident of one of those homes around the south border of the park. Only a short time ago the park was teeming with picnics and family reunions. Another summer gone. To my regret, I didn't get to a single band concert this year. No one's fault but my own.

Oh, oh! What happened?

I was musing with this when it was dark outside, and all at once everything went black in here. Not just my house, but everything. There were no lights anywhere. Here I sat not being able to see my hand in front of my face. Not a bit of light was coming into the house from outside. The entire neighborhood was without light. All at once someone was pounding at my door. I called but the person couldn't hear me.

So, I felt my way along the walls in the stark darkness around the corner to the dining room to the cabinet where I keep my flashlight. I managed to get hold of it and it worked. Hallelujah! I could see my way to the front door. The person was gone, but the neighbors across our adjoining driveways had their front door open and I called to them. It had been the good man there who had come to make sure I was all right. That was kind of him. I assured them I was OK.

Then, I walked very carefully by the light of my flashlight to the kitchen to light some candles, eight to be exact. But, you know what? Eight assorted candles did not provide the light of one 60-watt bulb. However, it got me out of the dark, which was quite a relief.

I thought of the two little hanging camping lanterns that Middle Daughter had given me some time back, and believe it or not I could lay my hands on them — and, they both worked. Hallelujah! And then there was light. I was much consoled. I always keep candles handy in case of such an emergency, and the flashlight, too. But these little lanterns with handles are perfect. You just twist the top of them and one by one, each of three small vertical tubes light up.

I hadn't eaten supper yet, so by candlelight I pulled some cheddar cheese curds and a bottle of V-8 vegetable juice out of the refrigerator for some quick sustenance. I then just sat down in the shadows and waited for the lights to come back on. It was kind of spooky. Many cars went up the hill toward the hospital with their lights on, but of course that was momentary and there was no television until finally, after about a half-hour waiting, power was restored. That was a welcome sight. I kept thinking "You never miss the power 'till the lights go out." (By the way, have you tried those cheese curds I mentioned, all sizes and shapes? They come in little clear plastic bags and make a good chewy snack once in a while.)

Back to the situation

The neighbors told me the cause of the problem was a car hitting a pole on West Galena near Lemon Avenue. I hope no one was hurt. I did hear an ambulance siren though. Burchard, leading straight to the hospital from the south, is the normal route of many emergency vehicles. I don't think the ambulance went by here tonight, though. Anyway, my main suspense was whether any of this column would still be on the computer, as I was typing away when, poof, it happened … and the computer died. I was rather stunned sitting there in the dark by myself. It was creepy.

Well, later when I turned the computer back on, two-thirds of what I had written was still there, but the last third was lost. So I'm doing it over. No big deal. I will confess, though, that was a new experience, shocking, sitting there in deep concentration and the light suddenly turning to total darkness. I have a phone at my fingertips, but without power it wouldn't work either.

So my advice, always remember to at least keep some candles and matches handy and if you're writing on the computer, do as the experts say, save, save, save your work.

Harriett Gustason is a writer for The Journal-Standard. She can be reached at (815) 235-3855 or hg3855@comcast.net.